March 3, 2016 | Sex & Society

Indonesia embracing homophobic rhetoric

Indonesia was never the most gay-friendly country in the world, but the predominantly Muslim country is slowly becoming aggressively homophobic.

Two weeks ago, the Indonesian Defense Minister claimed the LGBTI movement was more dangerous than nuclear war.

He then added: "It’s dangerous as we can’t see who our foes are, but out of the blue everyone is brainwashed – now the community is demanding more freedom, it really is a threat."

Indonesia's top psychiatric association issued a statement that said "we need to promote, prevent, cure and rehabilitate LGBT people"

The world's first and only Islamic school for transgender women, created as a safe space for trans people to gather and pray, was forced to close after eight years.

And things have gone from upsetting to absurd 

Mayor Arief R Wismansyah of Tangerang claimed the "gay problem" is because of milk. 

“To create Indonesian children that are healthy, smart, and competitive, the most important thing is, from the beginning, to provide them adequate nutrition, especially breastfeeding,” Wismansyah said, "So, it’s no wonder that recently there are more LGBT." Huh?

And newspaper Bahasa Indonesia even offered advice on how to spot those icky gays.

1. Likes to take selfies like an ‘alay’
2. Likes to stare at other men’s behinds
3. Likes to repeatedly stare at men he likes
4. A gay usually cares about his appearance
5. Up to date with fashion
6. Smells nice
7. Wears make up
8. Wears an earring on one of the ears (right)
9. Admires men
10. Wears V neck t-shirts.